Wire fabric.



H. RICHARDSON.

WIRE FABRIC.

APPLICATION mzo ran. 19, 19m.

e D M t m 3 SHEETS-SHEET l- H. RICHARDSON.

wme FABRIC.

APPL ICATWH HLED FEB. l9| IQI4. lhfi fifim Patented Dec. 4, 191?.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2- H. RICHARDSON.

WIRE FABRIC. APPLICATION FILED rm. :9. I914.

Patented Dec. 4, 191?.

3 SHEETS SHEET 3- HENRY RICHARDSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WIRE FABRIC.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Dec. 4t, Limit.

Application filed February 19, 1914. Serial No. 819,645.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, HENRY RICHARDSON, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire F abrics, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wire fabrics, and has reference more particularly to wire fabrics of the kind at present extensively used to form the bottoms of beds, couches, and like articles of furniture.

One type of bed and couch fabric now largely employed is characterized structurally by the presence of parallel longitudinal strands composed of interhooked bent wire units or links connected transversely at intervals by wire cross-links. The interhooking of the links forming the longitudinal strands in this type of fabric creates a weakness at these points of connection, owing to the liability of the hooks to pull or straighten out under tension. This same weakness also inheres in fabrics wherein the end portions of the wire forming each link are connected merely by interengaging hooks on said ends or by a hook on one end engaging a loo-p on the other end, since in all such cases there is present in the link at or intermediate its ends one or more hooks having a free or unsecured bent portion in the direct line of longitudinal strain, the strength of which to resist tensional strains is far below the breaking point of the wire itself.

The general object of my present invention is to provide a new and improved link wire fabric structure of a type heretofore originated by me and which is especially characterized by the fact that it employs two-ply links each formed from a single piece of wire in each longitudinal strand and may be made of aconsiderably lighter gage of wire than was theretofore known in fabrics of that character. This object I accomplish by a novel structure of link that entirely obviates the presence anywhere in a fabric of the type described of unsecured ends of loops or hooks in a line of longitudlnal strain. My present invention is capable of embodiment both in fabrics of the type employing an integral cross-arm, and in the type employing a separate cross-l1nk,to form the connection between adjacent longitudinal strands.

In the accompanying drawings T have illustrated my invention both in the integral cross-arm type of fabric and in the separate cross-link type of fabric; and, referring thereto- Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a wire fabric for bed and couch bottoms, illustrating my invention as embodied in a wire fabric of the integral cross-arm type. Fig. 2 is a perspective detail from the upper side of a portion thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective detail from the under side of a portion of one of the links thereof. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional detail, enlarged, on the line 4% of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of a wire fabric for bed and couch bottoms illustrating my invention as embodied in a wire fabric of the separate cross-link type. Fig. 6 is a perspective detail from the upper side of a portion of Fig. 5. F 7 is an enlarged perspective detail from the under side of a portion of one of the longitudinal links of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of a somewhat simplified variation of the fabrics of Figs. 1 to 4: inclusive. Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of a portion of one of the edge-strand links of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary top plan view of the fabric of Figs. 8 and 9 as modified to form a separate cross-link fabric. Fig. 11 is a bottom plan view of a portion of one of the longitudinal links of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a fragmentary top plan view of another variation of the fabric of Figs. 1 to 4L inclusive. Fig. 13 is a bottom plan view of a portion of one of the edgestrand links of Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a fragmentary top plan view of the fabric of Figs. 12 and 13 as modified to form a separate cross-link fabric. Fig. 15 is a bottom plan view of a portion of one of the longitudinal links of Fig. 14.

The novel fabric of my invention, in all of the forms illustrated, includes a plurality of links or units each composed of a single length of wire that is bent to provide the characteristic features, common to all the forms shown, of a two-ply body member having closed ends, with the end portions of the wire interlockinglyengaged with each other between the ends of the two-ply body member, one of said end portions being clenched to the link, and the other of said end portions being bent to form a laterally projecting loop or eye on one side of the body member, and being thence extended across said body member and forming an element of a cross-connection between the two-ply body members of laterally adjacent links of the fabric. This cross-connection element may take the form either of a cross arm engaging a lateral loop or eye of a laterally adjacent link, or it may take the form of a lateral loop or eye on the opposite side of the body member from said firstnamed lateral loop or eye that is clenched to the link and adapted to be engaged by a separate cross-link.

In all the embodiments of the invention herein presented, the wire of which each main longitudinal link is composed is bent in such a manner as to provide a two-ply body or tension member 10 the limbs of which are joined at one end preferably by means of a simple U-bend or loop 11, and are preferably joined at the other end by means of a two-ply loop 12, the sides of which two-ply loop are integrally joined across the body member, as clearly shown in the perspectiv views, Figs. 2 and 6. Furthermore, in all of the forms illustrated the end portions of the wire are interlockingly engaged with each other between the ends of the link and in the line of one limb of the body member, one end portion, from said point of interlocking engagement, being thence looped around and clenched to an element of the link, and the other end portion, from said point of interlocking engagement, being bent to form a loop or eye on one side of theb-ody member and an element of a cross-connection on the opposite side of said body member.

Referring first to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to t inclusive, 13 indicates the point at which the two end portions of the wire of each'link are interlockingly engaged with each other by extending across each other at their angular bends or junctions with one limb of the body member, from which they spring. The longer end portion of the wire extends, from the intersection 13, laterally of one side of the body member in'the form of a loop or eye 17, and thence across and laterally of the opposite side of the body member in the form of an integral cross-arm 18, which latter terminates at its outerend in a loop 19 that extends through the eye 17 of a laterally adjacent link, and has its free end clenched to the body of the cross-arm '18, 'asshown at 20. The shorter end portion of the wire extends, from the intersection 13, beneath the base of the lateral loop 17, as shown at 14 (Fig. 3),

thence up and across the upper side of the body member, as shown at 15, and thence beneath the body member, as shown at 16, whereby said short end portion is not only securely clenched to the body member, but also serves to tie together the two limbs of the body member just beneath the cross-arm 18. On one longitudinal edge of the fabric (the upper as shown in Fig. 1) the crossarm 18 is not required, and the wire forming the same is out off a slight distance beyond the side of the body member and is bent and clenched beneath the latter alongside the clenched end 16, as shown at 21. in Fig. 4.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive differs from that of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive only in that the longer end portion of the wire, instead of forming an integral cross-arm such as 18, is bent to create another lateral loop or eye 22 opposite and corresponding functionally with the loop or eye 17, the extreme end portion of the wire being carried back across and clenched to the body member as shown at 23 in Fig. 7. The lateral loops 17 and 22 of laterally adjacent links are, in this case, flexibly connected by a cross-link 24-, both ends of which are provided with loops 19' the free ends of which are clenched to the body portion of the cross-link at 20.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate a somewhat si1nplified variation of the fabric of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive. In this case, the longer end portion of the wire is treated the same as in the fabric of Figs. 1 to inclusive. being extended from the point of intersection 13 to form, first, the lateral loop or eye 17,

and, thence, the integral cross-arm 18 extending across the body member and projecting on the opposite side of the latter. The short end portion of the wire in this case starts from the upper side of the intersection 13, is thence carried across the upper side of the lateral loop 17", as shown at 25, and is then clenched beneath the lateral loop or eye 17 as shown at 26 in Fig. 9. This construction employs slightly less wire to form the link than the construction of Figs, 1 to 4t inclusive, and affords no less tensional strength in the two-ply body or tension member, but, of course, omits the feature of tying together the two limbs of the body member beneath the cross-arm. In the formation of the upper edge strand, where the cross-arm is omitted, the wire is cut off and clenched beneath the outer side of the body member as shown at 27 in Fig. 9.

Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate a modification of the fabric of Figs. 8 and 9 to adapt the same to the separate cross-link type. All that is necessary for this is to bend or loop back the wire that is used to form the crossarm 18 so as to produce the lateral loop or eye 22, the free end of which is clenched beneath the body member as shown at 23; the construction in this respect following that of Figs. 5, 6 and 7.

Figs. 1'2 and 13 illustrate a further variation in the general forms and structures of fabric shown in Figs. 1 to 41- inclusive and Figs. 8 and 9. In this case, the longer end 1,248,553 ljll portion of the wire is disposed of as in the forms and structures last referred to, but

the shorter end portion of the wire, from the point of intersection 13 is carried first across the base of the lateral loop or eye 17*, as shown at 25, thence beneaththe two-ply body member, as shown at 28 (Fig. 13), and its free extremity is curled around and clenched to the cross-arm 18*, as shown at 29 (Fig. 13). 1

Figs. 14 and 15 show a modification of the fabric of Figs. 12 and 13 to adapt the same to the separate cross-link type; this modification being the same as that already described in connection with Figs. 5, 6 and 7, and Figs. 10 and 11, and consisting of bending or looping back the longer end portion of the wire, after it has crossed the two-ply body member, to form the lateral loop or eye 22* and clenching the free end thereof beneath the body member, as shown at 23 in Fig. 15.

It will be evident that in all of the forms of the invention illustrated, the end portions of the wires forming the links are securely locked against pulling out under strain since each of their extremities is securely clenched to some part or element of the link. It will be observed that in the present case I have shown this principle as embodied in constructions wherein the free end portion of the wire is. clenched to the body or tension member of the link, to the laterally projecting loop or eye, and to the integral cross-arm. All of these constructions afford good results in practice, and a selection between them will, naturally, be determined largely by convenience and economy of manufacture; it being immaterial, so far as the invention broadly is concerned, whether the clenching of the free end of the wire is done to the body member, to the cross-arm, or to the lateral eye. The form illustrated in Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive represent the simplest and most practical forms from the standpoint of ease and economy of manufacture.

I claim 1. A wire link fabric including a plurality of links or units, each composed of a single length of wire bent to form a twoply body member, with the end portions of the wire interlockingly engaged with each other between the ends of the body member, one of said end portions being extended be yond said interlocking engagement crosswise over and beneath the body member and clenched to the latter, and the other end portion being bent to form a laterally projecting loop or eye on one side of the body member and thence extended across the latter and forming an element of a cross connection between the body members of laterally adjacent links or units of the fabric; said links or units being flexiblyconnected end to end to form longitudinal strands, and said longitudinal strands beingflexibly connected laterally throughout the fabric.

2. A wire link fabric including a plurality of links or units each composed of a single length of wire bent to form a twoply body member, with the end portions of the wire interlockingly engaged with each other between the ends of the body member, one of said end portions being bent to form a laterally projecting loop or eye on one side of the body member and thence extended across the latter and forming an element of a cross connection between the body members of laterally adjacent links or units of the fabric, and the other end portion embracing both sides of said loop or eye and thence extending crosswise over and beneath the body member and clenched to the latter; said links or units being flexibly connected end to end to form longitudinal strands, and said longitudinal strands being flexibly connected laterally throughout the fabric.

3. A wire link fabric including a plurality of links or units each composed of a single length of wire bent to form a twoply body member, with the end portions of the wire interlockingly engaged with each other between the ends of the body member, one of said end portions being bent to form a laterally projecting loop or eye on one side of the body member and thence extended across the latter and forming an element of. a cross-connection between the body members of laterally adjacent links or units of the fabric, and the other of said end portions embracing both sides of said laterally projecting loop or eye beyond the point of interlocking engagement; said links or units being flexibly connected end to end to form longitudinal strands, and said longitudinal strands being flexibly connected laterally throughout the fabric.

4:. As an article of manufacture, a wire fabric link consisting of a single length of wire bent to form a two-ply body member, with the end portions of the wire interlockingly engaged with each other between the ends of the body member, one of said end portions being extended beyond said interlocking engagement crosswise over and beneath the body member and clenched to the latter, and the other end portion being bent to form a laterally projecting loop or eye on one side of the body member and thence extended across the latter and forming an element of a cross connection between the body members of laterally adjacent links or units of the fabric.

5. As an article of manufacture, a wire fabric link consisting of a single length of wire bent to form a two-ply body member, with the end portions of the wire interlockingly engaged with each other between the 130 endsof the bodyqnem ber, one of said end portions being' bent to torm :a lalterally proj eet-iirg loop or eye onone side: of the body member and thkanceextendedacross the :latter end-forming an element-of across connection between the body members of laterzvlly odjacent links ormnits of -thefabric, :and the otherend portion embracing both sides of said loop or eye and thence extending crosswise 'over and beneath the body member and clenched to the latter.

i6. i-As an article ofinaznufacture, a wire "fabrie lin k consisting of :a single length of Wire bent to "forma two-ply body member, withithe end portions of the wire interlockingly engaged with each other between the *ends-*of the'body-qnember, one ofsaid end portions being bent to form a laterally progeotlng loop or eye on one side of the body member and theneeextended across the latter nnd'forming anelement of a cross-connection between the body members of laterally-wdjacent links or units, and the other of sai'd end portionsembracing both sides of said laterally projecting loopor eye beyond the poi-nt of interlocking engagement.

HENRY RICHARDSON. Witnesses "SAMUEL N.-POND, EDMUND G.INGERSOLL.

1Copies-of this patent: maysbe'obtainedfiorrfive-cents each, bysaddressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington; D. 0; 

